Squeeze roll apparatus



P 1958 K. uoos ETAL 2,851,869

SQUEEZE ROLL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 1'7. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORYfi T @0005 2'??? 8 Q)! ATTORNEW Sept. 16, 1958 Filed Jan. 17, 1955K.-Quoos ETAL 2,851,869

SQUEEZE ROLL APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I N VEN TORS a pm:

ATTORNEY/ United States Patent 2,851,869 Patented Sept. 16, 1958 SQUEEZEROLL APPARATUS Kurt Quoos, Essen, and Peter Urban, Krefeld, GermanyApplication January 17, 1955, Serial No. 482,279

Claims. (Cl. 68---258) The present invention relates to apparatus foractuating squeeze rolls and more particularly to apparatus for applyingand removing pressure from squeeze rolls such as those used in thetextile, paper and other industries.

This application is a continuation-in-part of application Serial No.341,132 filed March 9, 1953, and now abandoned, entitled Apparatus forSqueezing Moisture From Textile Fabrics.

This invention is applicable to squeeze rolls generally such as thesqueeze rolls used in the textile, paper and other industries forremoving liquids from webs and for pressing dyes, pigments or othermaterials into webs. However, for simplicity, the invention will bedescribed with primary reference to its use for removing liquids fromtextile webs but it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to any particular use or application.

In the production and finishing of textiles, there are many treatmentssuch as washing, bleaching, dyeing and the like which involve saturatingthe textile with a liquid and then removing the liquid by passing thetextile web between a pair of squeeze rolls. In order to remove most ofthe liquid from the web it is necessary to employ high specificpressures between the squeeze rolls and, when the web is wide, the highspecific pressures are difficult to obtain because when the squeezerolls are of suflicient diameter to withstand deflection at thepressures employed, they do not make line contact with each other butrather make contact over an area. This area contact reduces the specificpressure on the web.

Further, it often happens that a textile web will have seams or foldsand, when this occurs, the entire pressure of the squeeze rolls bearsagainst the seam or fold and bruises or crushes the textile fibers whilethe remainder of the web passing between the squeeze rolls does notreceive the proper squeezing pressure. The thicker and heavier thematerial is and the greater the width of the web the greater become thedifiiculties in providing a satisfactory squeeze roll system.

The present invention relates to an improved means for applying pressureover the entire length of such a small squeeze roll while permittinglocal movement or deflection of the squeeze roll when a fold or seam orthe like passes between the squeeze rolls. One of the principal objectsof the invention therefore is to provide improved apparatus for applyingpressure to squeeze rolls.

Another object is to provide a squeeze roll assembly in whichinequalities of web thickness are compensated.

Another object is to provide improved apparatus for separating squeezerolls.

Another object is to provide a squeeze roll assembly in which squeezingpressure is applied along the length of the roll.

These and other objects and advantages reside in novel features ofconstruction arrangement and combination of parts as will hereinafter bemore fully set forth and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section of a squeeze roll assemblyembodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3--3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view of a control system for the apparatus ofFigures 1 to 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical section of a modified form of apparatus embodyingthe present invention.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of the apparatus shown in Figure 5 withparts broken away to show internal structure.

In the drawing, the invention is illustrated as applied to a particularsqueeze roll apparatus, but it is to be understood that the inventionmay be applied to various forms and types of squeeze roll apparatus.

The apparatus illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 comprises spaced uprightsupports 10 rigidly connected by a cross frame 12. The upper squeezeroll assembly is carried by side frames 14 which are pivotally connectedat 15 to the uprights 10 at one side of the cross frame 12. A channel 16is rigidly connected to the side frames 14 and extends across theapparatus between the uprights 10 in vertical alignment with the crossframe 12.

The upper squeeze roll assembly includes an upper squeeze roll 18 whichis normally of steel or other hard material and which is looselyrotatable in the side frames 14. Preferably, the upper squeeze roll 13has a relatively small diameter mm. or less) so as to provide highspecific pressure on a web. To prevent deflection of the upper squeezeroll under pressure, a plurality of short front back-up rolls 2t) and aplurality of short rear back up rolls 22 are spaced along the length ofthe upper squeeze roll. The back-up rolls 20 and 22 are normally formedof relatively soft material such as rubber and each end of each back-uproll is preferably tapered as indicated at 24.

Each front back-up roll 20 is rotatably journalled in a pair of flat,segment shaped members 26. The channel 16 is provided with alongitudinal shoulder 28 for receiving one flat face of the segmentshaped members 26 and a strip 30 is secured along the front edge of thechannel 16 and engages the other flat face of the segment shaped members26 to fasten the members 26 and the front back-up rolls 20 to thechannel 16. Similar segment shaped members 32 carry the rear back-uprolls 22 and are secured in the channel 16 between the shoulder 28 and astrip 36. Due to the segmental shape of the members 26 and 32, bothvertical and transverse deflection of the upper squeeze roll 18 isprevented. The front and rear back-up rolls are preferably out ofalignment so that the spaces between adjacent front back-up rolls 20 arenot in alignment with the spaces between adjacent rear back-up rolls 22.

The bottom squeeze roll assembly comprises two parallel back-up rolls 38and 4t) which are rotatably journalled in the uprights 10. The lowerback-up rolls 38 and 40 are usually of hard strong material such assteel, ebonite or the like and the lower squeeze roll 42 is normallysoft and can be formed of soft, yielding material such as rubber.Normally the lower squeeze roll 42 is also of relatively small diameterand deflection is prevented by the lower back-up rolls 38 and 40.

The invention is not limited to any specific form of soft roll and knowntypes such as rubber or rubber coated steel soft rolls may be used.However, the maximum benefits of the invention are obtained when thesoft roll has a soft resilient surface which Will not crush or bruisethe textile fibers and a hard, dense body which will not becomedistorted under the pressure of the hard roll.

A preferred form of soft roll is composed of a number of disks arrangedside by side on a metal core and com- In order to apply squeezingpressure, aninfiatable. tube 44 is located between the cross frame 12and the channel 16' and extends substantially the entire length of theupper; squeeze roll 13. This tube 44may be formed of any suitablematerial having the necessary strength and flexibility. Aheavy rubbertube reinforced with cord has been found satisfactory.

The tube 44 is sealed at itsopposite ends by clamps 46,

and is connected intermediate its ends throughavpipe 47 and a suitablevalve 48 to a source ofhighpressure air or gas 50. When at rest,,thetube 44 is normally flat and,

when the valve 48 is actuated to introduce the air, the tube 44 tends toassume a cylindrical form andlexerts an even pressure over substantiallythe entire, lengthofjthe.

upper squeeze roll 18.

The long inflatable tube 44 rovidesprotectionfor. .0111.

the apparatus and the web in the event thatthere is; a

localinequality of thickness in the wehsuch as .thaLdue to a seam orfold or the like. Because of the large volume, of air in the tube 44, ithas more resilience andelasticity thana plurality of small aircylinders, spaced, along the. lengthof the roll 18. Also, because of thelength of the,

tube 44, the upper squeeze roll assembly canmtiltlongi tudina'lly underexcessive local pressure due to aseam or the like in the materialbeingsqueezed.

In order to increase the ability of the upper, squeeze.

roll18 to yield to local inequalities of pressure through:

out its length, slots 52 arecut in the sidesofthe Channel 16'so that thechannel itselfmay more readily flex under excessive or unequalstress.These slots 52 are normally located near the center of each upperback-up roll;

In order to lift the upper squeeze roll assembly away from the lowersqueeze roll assembly, the cross frame12 is provided with a shelf orbracket 54' which carries a.

second-inflatable tube 56. Each side frame 14 has a pro: jecting lug 58to which an angle section 60 is rigidly secured by bolts 62,. One arm64'of the angle section 60.

rests on top of the inflatable tube 56 so that when thetube is inflated,the upper squeeze roll assembly is raised. The inflatable tube 56 may bemade of the. same material as,

the inflatable tube 44 but-may be smaller since it has only to lift theweight of the upper squeeze roll assembly and does not have to exertsqueezing pressure. The twotubes. may be connected to the high pressureair by a single valve as indicated at 48 or may be controlled byseparate, valves but it is important that the controls be designed,

so that it is impossible to introduce high pressure air, to both tubessimultaneously.

A modified formof apparatus embodying the present.

invention isshownin Figures andi6.

In that embodiment the upper squeeze roll assembly is fixed and consistsof a beam or channel 70. rigidlyv secured between the uprights 10. Aplurality of short.

back-up rolls-72 are rotatably mounted on the beam, and

the upper squeeze roll 74 is loosely rotatably mounted ,in,

the uprights as--indicated,at,76.

The lower squeeze -roll"78'is.supported onbacleup, rolls 80 carried byabracket 82.0n the'support plate 84.which,

is pivotally connected at each endat 86 on an arm:88 which is, in turn,pivotally securedat 90 to upright 10 and whichmay belockedinadjustedpositionby a screw or bolts 92; By adjustment of the arm 88 the,lower squeeze .roll 7 8 may bepositioned exactly, with respect' to theupper squeeze roll.

A cross beam or support 94 is rigidly secured at its ends to theuprights 10 and the support plate 84 is mounted upon one or moreinflatable tubes 96 which extend substantially the entire length of thesupport plate 84. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the supportplate 84 has a downwardly projecting rib 98 and two inflatable tubes 96are positioned one on each side of the rib 98. When two tubes- 96- areused they are inflated simultaneously but it is to be understood that asingle inflatable tube could be used.

in squeezing apparatus of this type, it is common practice to formone ofthe squeeze rolls of hard material such as steel and'to form the othersqueeze roll of soft material. Eithertheupper. or thelower squeeze rollmay be the soft roll but I prefer to use the soft roll as the lowersqueeze roll. The back-up rolls which engage the squeeze roll may beeither short rolls as illustrated in Figure 5 or may be long continuousrolls of hard material suchas steel, ebonite or the like, as illustratedin Figure 2. Either, of the squeeze rolls may be driven either. directlyor through the back-up rolls.

Whenshort squeeze back-up rolls are used as illustrated in Figure 5 theback-up rolls on one side of. the squeeze roll should be staggered withrespect to the back-up rolls on the other side of the squeeze roll andthespacesbetween successive back-up rolls should not be in align: ment.Staggering the short back-up rolls inthis manner prevents unequal wearand scoring of the squeeze rolls especially the soft rolls.

One of the advantages of the modification shown in. Figures 5 and 6 isthat no separate operating means is,

necessary to separate the squeeze, rolls for threading a web-betweenthem. When the pressure is relieved in the inflatable bodies 96, thelower squeeze roll assembly drops away from the upper squeeze rollassembly by gravity" leaving sufficient room for threading a web betweenthe squeeze rolls.

From the foregoingit will be apparent that we have been able toaccomplish the objects of our invention and provide, an improvedapparatus for applying pressure to squeeze rolls in which high uniformpressures may be applied" throughout the length of thesqueezerollregardless of any inequalities ofthickness of the'web passingrange of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended;

to be embraced therein.

What isclaimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patentis:

1. Apparatus for squeezing web materials comprising a pair. of spaceduprights, a cross frame rigidly secured at its ends to said uprights andextending therebetween, a' lower squeeze roll rotatably carried by saiduprights beneath and substantially parallel to said cross frame, amovable frame extending between said uprights and disposed between saidcross frame and said lower. squeeze roll, arms rigidly secured to eachend of said.

movable frame, means pivotally securing said arms to saiduprights on anaxis spaced from the axis-vertical plane of said lower squeeze roll, anupper squeeze roll rotatably mounted in said arms adjacent said lowersqueeze roll, aplurality of rolls carried by said movable frame engagingopposite sides ofthe crown of said uppersqueeze roll at spaced pointsthroughout its length, and means between the cross frame and the movableframe for ap-. plying pressure to said movable frame over substantiallythe entirelength of the upper squeeze rolls.

2. Apparatusdefined in claim 1 in which the means for applying pressureincludes an inflatable flexible tubepositioned between said cross frameand said movable frame, and means for inflating said tube.

3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 including a second inflatableflexible tube carried by said cross frame, a bracket secured to saidarms and extending over the second inflatable tube and means forinflating the second inflatable tube to raise said pivoted arms.

4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3 including a source of fluid pressure,and means for selectively connecting said source to the first mentionedinflatable tube, or to the second inflatable tube.

5. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the movable frame islongitudinally flexible.

6. Apparatus as defined in claim 2 in which the movable frame comprisesa channel shaped member provided with slots formed in its sides.

7. In a squeeze roll apparatus, a frame containing a pair of parallelsqueezerolls whose axes lie one above the other and means for moving onesqueeze roll into squeezing engagement with the other, said meanscomprising a support fixed with respect to said frame, a movable supportflexible throughout its length, back-up roll means carried by saidmovable support for engaging said one squeeze roll on opposite sides ofthe crown throughout substantially the length of said one squeeze roll,and an inflatable tube positioned between said fixed support and saidmovable support and engaging said fixed and said movable supports, saidtube extending substantially the entire length of said one squeeze roll,and means for inflating said tube.

8. Apparatus for squeezing web materials between a pair of squeeze rollscomprising a frame, a support fixed with respect to said frame, asupport movable with respect to said frame and carrying a firstrotatable squeeze roll, back-up r011 means carried by said movablesupport for engaging said first squeeze roll on opposite sides of thecrown throughout substantially the length of said first squeeze roll, asecond squeeze roll rotatably carried by said frame, said first andsecond squeeze roll having axes lying one above the other, and aninflatable tube positioned between said fixed support and said movablesupport and engaging said fixed and said movable supports, said tubeextending substantially the entire length of said one squeeze roll, andmeans for inflating said tube to move said first squeeze roll intosqueezing engagement with said second squeeze roll.

9. Apparatus as defined in claim 8 in which the movable support andfirst squeeze roll are beneath the second squeeze roll, the fixedsupport is beneath the movable support and the inflatable tube isbetween the fixed support and movable support, whereby inflation of saidtube raises the first squeeze roll into squeezing engagement with thesecond squeeze roll.

10. Apparatus as defined in claim 9 in which the movable support has acentral, longitudinal depending rib, said inflatable tube beingpositioned on one side of said rib, a second inflatable tube positionedon the other side of said tube, and means for inflating both tubes.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS295,948 Sawyer Apr. 1, 1884 644,492 Besore Feb. 27, 1900 970,317 FirthSept. 13, 1910 1,894,594 Lewis Jan. 17, 1933 1,970,911 Hartmann Aug. 11,1934 2,001,744 Patterson May 21, 1935 2,142,932 Beard Jan. 3, 1939UNITED ATE PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE e1? CORRECTION Patent No, 2,851,869I v September 1e, 1958 Kurt Quoos et 8.1, It is herebfir certified thaterror appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 4, line 65, for "axis", second occurrence, read axial Signed andsealed this 3rd day of February 1959,

(SEAL) Attest:

KARL H, -AXLINE t ROBERT c; WATSON Attesting Oficer Commissioner ofPatents

